w_icked

I've already searched this up and several threads have come up emphasizing its isolation. But besides that, is it really that bad?

I would like to live in a single but still maintain a social life. Hereford first years would get along with other Hereford first years if we're all 'stuck' together, right?

And besides the fact that it is really really really far away (is it really that far away?) and it looks like a prison, is there anything else anyone can add to this whole Hereford (or rather, Malone/Weedon) dorm thing?

Some who has preferably actually lived in Hereford during their first year would be nice but all feedback welcomed.

jaybird201

i didn't live in hereford, but i stayed there probably a total of 13-14 nights when visiting a sig other. it IS really far away from everything. probably 10-15 minutes further from classes and parties and such compared to the other dorms. you can always walk to the bus stop, which isn't as far away, but you'd still have to wait for a bus, which can also take forever.

it's also way cold, uncomfortably so, and is smelly too. and looks like a prison.

powderpuff

I never lived there, but there must be a reason it's sometimes referred to as "Azkaban"~~~~however, on a positive note, I have heard that the folks there bond very well and become good friends. If that's what you're looking for, then go for it, everyone is different. Good luck.

Anarchy Bunny

You can make the most of Lambeth, but generally, I'd say it's a bit of a black hole.

Not quite on the Gooch/Dillard level of where social life goes to die unless you're a hardcore gamer, but it's not fun. Still, if you want a single at UVA (I think every first year should have a roommate, but that's me), your choices are kinda limited in terms of on-campus housing unless you become an RA.

w_icked

Thanks guys. I understand that there are single rooms available in the IRC? Are these available to first years or are they only allowed for second years and above? I tried reading on it in the website and it did say first years allowed only but the application form confused me because it allowed me to rank my preference for a single and double room.

Anarchy Bunny

*edit: and by "Lambeth" in that last post, I of course meant, "Hereford"

pmanliu

i am a first year living in malone

at first i was upset that of my housing location, but then grew to love it. I'll try to address some issues one by one

"every first year needs a roommate" The fact that malone was 90% singles voids this statement. I value my single (proves in very handy when my gf comes over ;] ), and still are great friends with my hallmates. its not like i am singled out, b/c i am the only one with a single. We all have singles, we all talk, and we all grow in each other. My closest friends at uva are the ones living right next to me in malone right now.

"it looks like a prison, feels like a prison" Unless you are trying to compare kellogg to malone, it is not so bad. The single is clean, includes free fridge and microwave. We have working ac, etc. If you want to go for looks, look at old dorms. Whenever i go over to their bathroom i feel as if i am in a rest stop's BR.

"its very far" I come from NYC, and i know what a far commute is. A 10-15 minute walk is CLOSE. Heck, a 10-15 minute walk everyday is also healthy. If i wanted to take the bus (that comes every 10 minutes btw, which is extremely frequent), the bus stop is within 1 minute walking distance and i get to class busing faster than people from old dorms walking.

"buncha weirdos" - Every place has different types of social people. There will be some who dont fit into your 'style,' but rest assured there are a lot who are just like you. First semester, me and a bunch of hallmates would all go to Szechuan (sketch-uan!) friday nights to party together. Likewise weekday nights we would play xbox/guitar hero/forza/etc in each others rooms. Its not like we sit in front of our computers playing starcraft 24/7. (i admit it has happened once or twice though )

"cold & smelly" - Yes, hereford is that much more up north from the other dorms that makes it colder. No, the temperature of hereford is the same everywhere else. TRUE we are colder in the summer, but thats because we get to blast our AC. :]. For the smelly comment, i'd say hereford people are more clean than most other dorms. Most picked singles in the first place b/c they like to be neat/was scared of having a roommate opposite of them/whatev, which only leads them to be clean in public also. Our hall looks down on people who dont flush toilets, wash hands. The times i go to old dorms, there is usually a bad B.O. odor in the stairwells

wicked, you will live in a single, and you will maintain your social life. Most of the hereford comments come from people who have went there less than 5 times and with a closed mind. I was one of those people, but having lived here, my mindset completely changed. If you have any more questions, just ask away and i will be happy to answer them

U.Va_hopeful

wow. thanks pmanliu. I was really wanting a single, and I didn't really think Hereford was such a big deal (I actually wanted to live there) but everyone kept stressing how horrible it was. It's nice to have the perspective of someone who actually lived there and liked it. (:

twald

^^ It's really not bad. Plus you're like 10 feet from Runk which is open till 10pm (other dining halls close at 8)..

w_icked

Haha yeah, thanks guys.

I agree what with U.Va_hopeful said - everyone keeps saying it is super super anti-social and isolated from like everything and just really horrible and kept discouraging me! Oh well, I guess I'll see what happens :]

barboza

Don't live there unless you're willing to take the bus every day to get to central grounds or spend 15-20 minutes walking..